Name records of the past few years where the artists recording actually sound like they're having fun

Both songs have a distinct '90s/eurotrash feeling. Was that the last time when pop was really "fun"? Yes, '90s eurotrash was "funny" in a way, but I wouldn't call that good.

zeus kinda too bonkers to be challops there.

I don't think pop has to be "fun", otherwise we're ignoring the whole history of awesome love/death ballads that runs down the mainstream of pop history. Those records can be fun, but not in the way you're getting at here I don't think Dom. Completely otm about "What's It Gonna Be?", that record is full of the infectious grin-rush you get from great pop records. The meta-pop artistes have perhaps gone too studied/meta to actually catch much of that at the moment?

Busted always looked like they were having fun.

When I say always, I mean on stage or in videos.

We went to a book signing, they did not look like they were having fun at all.

Busted first album = having big fun
After that = all want to be in Emo/Metal bands and hating the thing they're actually good at

The meta-pop artistes have perhaps gone too studied/meta to actually catch much of that at the moment?

Maybe, but then again The Monkees were perhaps the first meta-pop act, and they were maybe top ten "funnest" bands ever. I wonder if the meta thing is a red herring? Even when boybands did the downbeat ballads there was always an upturn at some point in the song (I'm thinking "Back For Good" here especially).

I don't mean the meta-ness itself is the problem. Perhaps it's to do with being cut-off from a scene. Part of the fun in pop derives from that sense of "this is our thing", and that's hard - but not impossible - for a Tin Pan Alley type performer to tap into. I think the Monkees had a sense of belonging to a "thing" even when they were gently spoofing it too. Also: rock and roll being young and vibrant versus rock and roll being a decaying whale corpse on the beach.

Noze - "Songs on the rocks"
Crazy Cousinz - "Bongo Jam"

both sound like they're having a lot of fun...

Oh, and "Wearing my rolex" obviously

not really in line with the other suggestions, but Mission of Burma's The Obliterati brims with this sentiment throughout the record, from the sprightly songs and vocals to lines like "pull up a chair, next tune is gonna be mine / eating dinner on Matador's dime!" they seem genuinely excited to be making new music and having people actually give a damn.

That Blink tune with the mock boyband video. That's about it as far as chart hits go.

Good question, btw.

The New Pornographers' Sing Me Spanish Techno.

"You Wanna Piece of Meat" is bleak, nasty fun. It just sounds like it's at Britney's expense.

Not POP though, is it? Up In Flames by Manitoba made me almost BURST with joy at the unbridled fun it was embodying / expressing / imbued with, but it's not POP, is it? Not in the sense Dom means. Anyone can pick they're favourite indie /metal / electronic / jazz / whatever artist and say "boy, these guys sound like they';re having fun", but that's different. Groove Is In The Heart. Love Shack. Stipe laughing in The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite. Etc. Mainstream pop and rock music is, seemingly, lately, for the most part, obsessed with seriousness and perfection and deadness. For how long? Why?

x-post; Was referring to New Pornos.

I think the New Seriousness is what makes modern R&B so bad as well.

Good R&B songs of the past few years or so: "1 Thing", "Umbrella", a whole bunch of R Kelly stuff.

Bad R&B songs of the past decade: all of this fucking po-faced automoton Beyonce/Cassie/interchangable diva shit.

Same thing as in pop, right?

Yeah (re MoB) how wide is the net supposed to be in this question? I kind of assumed there was an implied level of recognition, if not one only applying to pop records - 'The Obliterati' does sound like a fun time but we might as well just list a load of thrash metal or noise records

Made-Up Love Song No. 43 by Guillemots had this kind of vibe when I first heard it. Joyous.

Yeah (re MoB) how wide is the net supposed to be in this question? I kind of assumed there was an implied level of recognition, if not one only applying to pop records - 'The Obliterati' does sound like a fun time but we might as well just list a load of thrash metal or noise records

-- DJ Mencap, Wednesday, 28 May 2008 11:50 (33 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

Obscure indie shit can be listed, but I wanna think about how "fun" and "pop" interlink.

Wannabe by Spice Girls may be the last one. All saints never sounded like they were having fun. Were Spice Girls the last (big successful) pop band actually FOR kids rather than for grannies (Westlife etc) / students & sexualised teens (Britney) / hipsters (Justin)?

Hot Chip sound fun sometimes "hot chip will break your legs" etc.

"That's Not My Name" by the Ting Tings.

Do you really think the Ting Tings sound like they're having fun, Marcy? To me they sound like a band comprised entirely of Toni and Guy stylists.

The correct answer is Kaiser Chiefs.

rolleyes.gif

On balance I think "TTMN" narrowly comes out on the side of fun. Not yet sure how, or if at all, that extends to the rest of their album.

On a wider scale, though, this comes out as whether you want awe from/to worship a pop star or fancy being mates with them.

Surely a lot of fun, unless you are of the opinion that guys with guitar=automatically unfun. Kaiser Chiefs have the same thing about them as mid 90s Blur, who did also have fun. (well, except Graham Coxon, who took himself way too seriously to be able to have fun during the recording of the great "Country House" video)

Kaiser Chiefs just sound so... aggravated

Geir there was a story in the UK tabloids a while back about Jo Guest being so broke she was selling her used underwear on eBay. Just sayin

On a wider scale, though, this comes out as whether you want awe from/to worship a pop star or fancy being mates with them.

-- Dingbod Kesterson, Wednesday, 28 May 2008 12:38 (1 minute ago) Bookmark Link

Which is healthier? Which is more clasically "pop"?

Yeah, Kaiser Chiefs sound like forced, alcopop & lager & rohypnol "fun".

Geir there was a story in the UK tabloids a while back about Jo Guest being so broke she was selling her used underwear on eBay. Just sayin

-- DJ Mencap, Wednesday, 28 May 2008 12:40 (17 seconds ago) Bookmark Link

Doesn't she have ME or something now?

Argh Geir No! (multiple x posts)

Scooter sound like they're having fun

Fibromyalgia, according to Google.

xp

Yeah, Kaiser Chiefs sound like forced, alcopop & lager & rohypnol "fun".

The fact that they - unlike The Spice Girls - write their own material kind of suggests that Spice Girls' fun was way more forced. At least Kaiser Chiefs have written their own fun.

Xpost to Dom's Q to me:

Wouldn't be able to give the same answer to both since "fancy being mates" is more realistic and therefore healthier but awe and worship are far more "classically" pop as in untouchable idols who can do things you would never be able to do and thus in a way exceed humanity. But we're in an age where we're suspicious of idolatry (even on a base Rhydian vs Leon level) and most punters just want to look at a matey mirror, which I think fatal for pop.

Must... resist...

You're right about TNP, Nick. They aren't pop.

Honestly, I can't think of many (maybe any) pop songs over the past few years that meet Dom's criteria. It's less that they're all so "serious" as it is that they're working so hard to be "tough," "hard," and cold. For instance, someone mentioned Umbrella. I love that song, but I don't feel like Rihanna was having "fun" when she sang it.

Agree with Marcello re; mateyness vs AWE. Awe is good for pop. Pop stars should be liek amazing, beautiful, bonkers aliens. Which is maybe why Whinehouse is successful, to a degree?

For instance, someone mentioned Umbrella. I love that song, but I don't feel like Rihanna was having "fun" when she sang it.

-- Daniel, Esq., Wednesday, 28 May 2008 12:44 (1 minute ago) Bookmark Link

"Umbrella" was probably a bad call, yeah. "1 Thing" sounds FUN though, from where I sit.

Aye, agreed on 1 Thing.

Missy Elliott pre 2004, too. Occasionally post.

"Weezy baby"?

Speaking as someone who's never written or performed music, the idea that it would be more 'fun' to sing yr own tune rather than someone else's is crazy and fascinating. I don't want to shout it down though cos it's all very alien to me

many xposts to Geir

"1 Thing" sounds FUN though

Yeah, I can see that. It's looser than Umbrella, that's for sure, and that helps it be more "fun." (Umbrella, great as it is, is wound tight as a drum).

It's not even up for debate, I mean what's more fun: doing your job or karaoke?
xp

A Winehouse didn't really become successful off the back of being a crackheaded fuckup though Nick - it's kind of hard to evaluate how 'successful' she is at the moment

Sitting peacefully in your own office vs. getting pints thrown at you in the Pint Pot - it's a tough call...

In terms of number ones, "American Boy" sounds like it was a ball to make, but before that we're talking "It's Chico Time" I'm afraid.

Fair point re; Whino's early success. Is it part of her continued / extended appeal, though? "Here;s someone who's a bit of a character"?

From this year:

Ladyhawke - Back Of The Van (Fred Falke Ultimate Beverly Mix)
Ryan Leslie - Diamond Girl
American Boy?

There's a lot of songs the last few years that sound sad even thought they shouldn't be - 'Lollipop' for example.

Sadly - The Exploding Hearts - 'Guitar Romantic'

Broken Social Scene probably the funnest indie-schmindie I've heard in a long time and they're pretty poppy. For indie.

Why did I not think of Souljah Boy before? He really does sound like he's having fun, the kids love him too.

Soulja Boy Tell'Em is also pretty much loathed by a lot of the Old Pop dudes as well, that may be the reason why.

Yeah, that cheeky "if you don't get it you're too old" thing is another classic ingredient of fun pie.

* 9 Lazy 9
* Airborn Audio
* Ammoncontact
* Amon Tobin
* Animals On Wheels
* Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
* Blockhead
* Bonobo
* Chris Bowden
* Cabbageboy
* Chocolate Weasel
* The Cinematic Orchestra
* Clifford Gilberto
* Coldcut
* Daedelus
* DJ Food
* DJ Toolz
* DJ Kentaro
* DJ Vadim
* DK
* The Dragons
* Dwight Trible
* Dynamic Syncopation
* Fink
* Flanger
* Fog
* Funki Porcini
* Ghislain Poirier
* The Herbaliser

* Hex
* Hexstatic
* Hint
* Homelife
* The Irresistible Force
* Jaga Jazzist
* Kid Koala
* Loka
* London Funk Allstars
* Max & Harvey
* Mr. Scruff
* Neotropic
* One Self
* Pest
* The Qemists
* Rainstick Orchestra
* Roots Manuva
* Sixtoo
* Skalpel
* Spank Rock
* Super Numeri
* The Poets of Rhythm
* Treva Whateva
* Up, Bustle and Out
* Wagon Christ
* Yppah
* Zero db

Can't believe noone has mentioned Alphabeat - Fascination yet!

I was thinking about Alphabeat. There's a certain... I dunno. I'd file them alongside High School Musical, which is probably the alpha and omega of "fun" in music these past few years, and I wonder if I find either of their enthusiasms fake whether or not that just marks me out as a hopeless cynic.

Also, The Sweet Escape.

People don't seem to be as WTF as I expected about the fact that Alphabeat cover 'Public Image', the song, on their album. I should try listneing to it at some point I guess

As somebody who gets to listen to the HSM Tour album on a regular basis, I feel like it's mostly a highly showbizzed take on fun, even when they're rocking out.

Same as Alphabeat then.

Reigning Sound - Too Much Guitar

Exploding Hearts - Guitar Romantic

Kanye sounds like he's pretty much having fun in general.

"but what you wanted was never made clear... Wo oh wo o o oh.."

marked men - fix my brain

marnie stern record
mick barr & zach hill record

i hear these and they just sound like the musicians were riding roller coasters in between takes

Bonnie Prince Billy - Summer in the Southwest

Alphabeat *look* like they're having fun when you see them live, but the album feels hugely faux-jolly, like a super-concentrated mix of Dodgy's 'Good Enough' and The Boo Radleys' 'Wake Up Boo' played by, yes, the HSM crew.

Who's had fun recently? Art Brut's a decent enough call, and I suspect The Wombats are enjoying themselves, whatever you think of their schtick. The Pipettes, of course.

Lots of recent mainstream country music sounds like the artists are having fun, for example Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, tons of other cases.

Side question - does fun always equal fast?

lil wayne "lollipop"

dom dunno if you'd consider them pop but los campesinos! sound like they love recording music

i dont think ghostface has ever really mailed it in either, but maybe i'm stretching the limits of "pop" there

i think the-dream and ne-yo, both of whom have put out good records and singles over the past few years, definitely fit the bill as singers who sound like they're having "a ball" while recording, and i think it's interesting to note that both started out as songwriters for other artists, so you can kind of pick up on they're enthusiasm for being able to release music as singers

Souljah Boy yes
MIA most of the time

Hey Ya

What about Lady Sovereign? That was one of the things that attracted me to "Random" was how much fun she seemed to be having goofing on various hip-hop tropes.

http://www.tunetribe.com/assets/images/products/52/product_image_51220.jpg

justin timberlake- futuresex/lovesounds

dom i know u already know but for all yall
http://images.juno.co.uk/150/CS205621-01A.jpghttp://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000065UJJ.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg

bob dylan - love and theft, modern times

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EQ7TRNR9L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

i think cee-lo and dangermouse are having a blast as gnarls barkley.

simon h: that is so strange that you mention "the obliterati," as that literally was among the first records that popped into my head as ones that sound like the band members were actually having fun recording it. same goes for marnie stern.

and, i mean, "party like a rock star"? shit man, if you aren't drinkin' in the studio while cranking that shit out, i don't know what.

I'd say Santogold sounds like she's having a ball on her album.

probly obvious easy answer but
http://blogs.indiewire.com/dmw/archive/GO-Team-Thunder-Lightning.jpg

theres this one video of them on youtube where the girl on keyboards is like hardcore bopping her head with the song & its real fun

probly obvious easy answer

someone upthread posted 'hey ya,' i wouldn't sweat it

The Wombats is a good call actually. I wonder if that's why the NME heelturned on them?

The bulk of fun-having acts I've heard over the past few years haven't really been pop -- they've been boneheaded punk, garage, or noise acts, rock guys who sound thrilled to be around in a moment where they're not judged as lacking in smarts or complexity, and instead surrounded by a lot of fans who actually want that boneheaded energy. That dispels a lot of anxiety, I think -- being reassured that your simple, gut-instinct rock-guy stuff is in demand, and you don't have to calculate or try to expand beyond what the gut wants you to.

And even in pop, anxiety is what we're talking about, isn't it? It seems a bit like the charts are too fragmented and perilous for most artists to just be there, without some sort of things-are-at-stake anxiety that blunts the freedom/fun. Most of the smaller pop acts I see are strivers and plotters and image-branders, not fun-havers who just accidentally got famous; and lots of the long-established pop acts have this vibe like they're carefully nailing themselves in at the top, trying hard not to slip.

usually when "carefully nailing myself" im having fun

andrew wk (1st album)

And even in pop, anxiety is what we're talking about, isn't it? It seems a bit like the charts are too fragmented and perilous for most artists to just be there, without some sort of things-are-at-stake anxiety that blunts the freedom/fun. Most of the smaller pop acts I see are strivers and plotters and image-branders, not fun-havers who just accidentally got famous; and lots of the long-established pop acts have this vibe like they're carefully nailing themselves in at the top, trying hard not to slip.

-- nabisco, Wednesday, 28 May 2008 21:53 (5 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

Do you think, say, Madonna could release an album where she sounded like she was having fun? If Aguilera went back to pop, could she? Shakira? I mean, surely when you reach a certain level your position is safe.

I was thinking about Madonna when I wrote that, actually. I think there's something about her celebrity status outside of music (and especially press treatment of women her age) that somehow makes it hard for her to be completely loose and fun: the public tends to be pretty near the line of mocking her, and I think she's probably aware that there are things she could do that would set people off trashing her as a gross old lady or has-been. I mean, it can be hard enough for women her age to navigate people's expectations of aging and grace and vitality even when they're NOT in a youth/sex-oriented field like pop music!

Shakira, on the other hand, I think can get away with a hell of a lot, so long as the groove of the music isn't disrupted: people kinda want her to be out-there and fun-having. I mean, stuff the breasts/mountains line way back when went a long way toward getting people to go "okay this woman is totally interesting and totally awesome in my book."

P.S. I'm not really saying that Madonna is necessarily calculating about those things, but I think the vague anxiety of stuff like that has got to be ... at play, even in subtle not-entirely-conscious ways. There was a time where she could do whatever, but it's passed.

Most metal bands (non-black division) are having a blast.

M.I.A.?? jesus no way

CSS on the other hand....

The Rapture, on the second album at least; they sounded a bit too desperate on the first.

Maybe !!! at times as well.

Again, though, not really in the realms of mainstream pop/rock.

there are some truly bizzare answers on this thread already. it's like ILM wouldn't recognise real glee if it sat on their faces giggling.

CSS's "Alcohol" fits this for me, but I'm not sure about some others. (Lyrics on that one are a big part of it, and the handclaps, and the random animals. "I'm just a girl, but I have a very strong punch / and I have just ... broken your nose, CLAP CLAP")

that's the one song off the album I wouldn't have picked really, too knowing...

Be Your Own Pet, i.e. end of track chatter on Get Awkward

Bad Plus - Prog, too

tHE dICKIES

BYOP occurred to me, too, though mostly on "Adventure."

IF ANYTHING this thread has (mostly) proven that while yes, there might be records of the past few years on which the artists recording actually sound like they're having fun, not a lot of them are actually good.

Basically anything by CSS. Be Your Own Pet aren't having fun! Didn't someone just recently exit the band?
Alphabeat are on meth so I don't believe its genuine fun....hmm I'd also say Nelly Furtado but thats mostly because she's very infantile in most things...agreed about The Rapture. Gnarls Barkley definitely. Oh and The Flaming Lips, Jens Lekman, Kid Sister, sometimes Kanye West (particularly on Everbody Nose ('Have you ever had any black in you? Would you like some?'...funny guy), Gym Class Heroes are always having a larf, those stupid idiots in The Hoosiers, The Shins?...definitely Soulja Boy but mostly because he can't believe he's getting away with that shit. The Guillemots used to...Beth Ditto, Peaches...oh and The Young Knives are VERY happy.

Jordan, I'll second Los Campesinos!, although again they may not be what Dom's looking for here. Also Soulja Boy, tolly.

Would I be way off base in blaming Nirvana for the loss of fun in pop music? Mainstream 90's rock was way more depressing than anything before it, did that bleed into 90's pop too?

High School Musical got mentioned upthread - isn't there something true in this? In that the locus of "fun" in pop got relocated from the songs themselves to the stuff surrounding the songs.

So it's arguable whether Gym Class Heroes or Pretty Ricky seem to be having fun in their songs, but there's no debate over whether they're having fun in their youtube clips. Soulja Boy = case in point here - creating the craze for his dance was the fun bit.

Also Miley Cyrus...

the new erykah badu album answers this question for me. it is thematiclly serious material for the most part, but it sounds like its in love with music. same thing with kelley polar.

A 12 hour shift in the joinery factory? Best speak to a union rep about that then...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41i%2BMCsodGL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

dude n em - watch my feet

A 12 hour shift in the joinery factory? Best speak to a union rep about that then...

-- SeekAltRoute, Thursday, 29 May 2008 05:00 (2 hours ago) Bookmark Link

Agency workers don't get union representation.

Rhadoo always sounds like he's having a blast

Name message board posts of the past few years where the artists writing actually sound like they're having fun

I remember thinking that about that Witch album
(do I have that right? That J. Mascic / whats his face from..that one band...pseudo-sabbath side project?). I mean how can you not have fun playing those riffs.

New discovery: Katy Perry is having hella fun all over the place, I'll betcha.

Can't be arsed to listen to that. Is it a Jill Sobule cover, or has she chosen a song with exactly the same name and topic as something that was a US radio hit 15 years ago, and tried to pass herself off as shocking and modern?>

this is why i love the sway f yr x song. although the lines about killing stushs ex kinda ruin the fun vibe.

Katy Perry sounds like she's constantly sliding her eyes over to check for reactions, too anxious to please or shock to get any sort of fun out of the whole thing.

Convincingly having fun: Lil' Mama.

Chosen a song with exactly the same name and topic as something that her mother wrote 15 years ago morelike (Linda Perry, anyone?).

i'd love it if that were true! it'd make sense, for sure.

but no, she's a good xtian gal apparently, who's been working with glen 'alanis morissette' ballard: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katy_Perry

my enjoyment of the two good songs has just been tempered somewhat. that's not fun at all.

Haha, she's the white girl from the "Cupid's Chokehold" video!

Stipe laughing in The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite.

this is golden, totally makes the song ^^

Whatever you think about the Hold Steady's music, they sound like they're having a great time making them.

How about Modest Mouse's Dashboard? I think that sounded like a riot, maybe inspired by having Johnny Marr standing among them! I think I'd be pretty happy if I convinced a Smith to hang out with me.

Great cover:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ac/UR_So_Gay.jpg

wouldnt it be uncool to act like youre having pure unadulterated fun in 2008? surely thats why no one gives vocal performances like that anymore. well that and the fact most people are careerists in music now, too aware of what they want and can get.

Daphne and Celeste's We Didn't Say That!
The Pipettes - We Are the Pipettes

The Ting Tings of their respective days.

What about Bis?

Also the Ting Tings of their respective day.

Thought so.

Anyway T2 feat Addictive - Gonna Be Mine. Quite a lot of bassline actually but mostly because it's so hyper. Not Heartbroken, though, still think she sounds bored.

2008 - We Started Nothing - The Ting Tings
2007 - "You! Me! Dancing!" - Los Campesinos!
2006 - Cansei de ser Sexy - CSS
2005 - "Oh My Gosh" - Basement Jaxx
2004 - Sung Tongs - Animal Collective
2003 - "Hey Ya!" - Outkast
2002 - Under Construction - Missy Elliott
2001 - "Party Hard" - Andrew WK
2000 - Chicks On Speed Will Save Us All! - Chicks On Speed

Looking at that list, and with a couple of exceptions, it's official: I hate fun.

Why are we in denial when we know we're not happy here?

The Klaxons always sound like they're having fun, it's possibly a biproduct of sounding like a ropey student band though.

Jessica Simpson's' "A Public Affair" is the first answer that came into my head. It is both better and more fun than "What's It Gonna Be", a record that in theory is amazing but in practice is only pretty good (there are better similar bassline tracks).

I don't think the fun of "1 Thing" can be counterposed against Beyonce really - "Crazy In Love", "Get Me Bodied" and "Suga Mama" all sound similar and similarly fun-to-make, although I admit that Amerie's dizzy vocals give "1 Thing" an edge in this specific area.

"Don't Stop The Music" is the better Rihanna nomination than "Umbrella".

The Tough Alliance and Shy Child sound like the most fun bands to be in at the moment.

Dom Passantino: back door rockist? Reduces pop to smiley platitudes? Was Knowing Me, Knowing You fun? West End Girls?

I've given this a bit of thought and have come up with a less smarmy response:

Recently, Vampire Weekend and Born Ruffians both sound like they're having a pretty gay ol' time on their records — might be due to that sort of sprightly 'yay! we're recording our first-ever albums!' sort of attitude. HIPSTERRIFIC!

the pinker tones were having fun on million colour revolution imo.